Trolley



Lam 'A 7, QC;

w. BOWER TROLLEY Nov. 23,1926. 1,608,297

Original Filed ov-.18, 1921 ni dr' I eorge Bower,

His Attok- Patented Nov. 23, 1926.

' UNITED STATES :rAT Nrorr cE.

snonenw. Bowen, or SCI-IENECTADY, NEW YORK, Assierron To GENERALnLnora-Ie' COMPANY, aconroRA'rIoN or New YORK. v

TROLLEY.

Original application filed November 18, 1921, Serial No. 516,094, nowPatent 1,487,311, dated March 18;

1924. Divided and this application filed January 8, 1924 Serial No.685,064.

The present invention is a division of the subject-matter of my PatentNo. 1,487,311, March 18, 1924, and relates to electric propulsion ofstreet vehicles and more especially to trackless trolley systems inwhich the collector makes simultaneous contact with two overhead wires,constituting the supply and return sides of the electric circuit.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved trolley structurewhich will maintain operative relation with a pair of overhead wiresquite irrespective of the swaying or jolting of the vehicle or itssomewhat wide departure from the vertical plane of the wires, and alsocapable of ready adaptation for operation in conjunction with a singleoverhead wire.

One embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, inwhich Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the trolley head, and Fig. 2 is asimilar View of a detachable contact shoe.

The trolley pole 1 is, for the sake of lightness and flexibility, madeof wood, either in one piece or in strips, with an axial channel for thepassage therethrough of the insulated conductors or lead wires 11 and 12from the head 13 to-the base. The head 13 is made in the shape of atriangular frame having diagonal braces 14 and a horizontal bar 15 ofwood or other insulating material, the latter of which has a lengthsomewhat less than twice the space between the pair of trolley wires(not shown) suspended along the highway. The horizontal bar 15 carrieson its upper surface two independent metal collector plates or shoes 16and 17 with pockets 18 therein for thereception'of solid lubricatingmatter such as tallowand graphite, and between their adjacent ends isdisposed an insulating barrier orspacer bracket 19 which operates toprevent both trolley wires coming in contact with either shoe at thesame time and becoming short circuited thereby. By reason of the trolleyhead having no metal part long enough to bridge the space between thetrolley wires,

the matter of maneuvering the trolley into place and operating it evenat an obtuse angle to the wires is rendered safe. At the outer ends ofthe collector plates or shoes 16 and 17 are formed brackets 20 withfender loops 21 extending above and beyond the operative surface of theshoes. To

the lower ends of the brackets 20 the insulated conductor wires 11 and12 are attached. In order that the collector head 13 may readily respondto variations in the elevations of the trolley wires independent of theinertia of the pole, the former is hinged to the latter at 21 a shortdistance below its outer end and at its end a guard bracket 22 isattached and having pivoted thereto two transverse bell cranks 23 withtheir short arms connected by a tension,

spring 24: while their long arms are respectively pivoted to theinnersides of the divergent braces 14.

lVhile the normal field of operation of a trackless trolley car is onstreets not equipped with track rails but with the common single trolleywire, it is often necessary to provide such cars with means whereby theymay operate in the customary manner of street cars running on tracks andreceiving current from a single overhead Wire, as in the case of gettingthe car to and from a car barn located at some distance from the pointof juncture of the two systems. I accordingly provide a detachablecontact shoe 93 adapted to be seated astride the insulating spacerbracket 19 and comprising a metal casting with its upper surfaceprovided with a groove 94 adapted to make sliding engagement in wellknown manner with a single trolley wire and its frogs and crossovers,

and with its lower side provided with claws and 96 adapted to rest uponand make good contact with both collector shoes'16 and 17 and with twoears 97 for the reception of a bolt adapted to pass through the spacerbracket 19 to secure the shoe thereon.

While I have shown and described the best embodiment of the inventionknown to tween said pole and said head, two sliding contact platessupported on said head, and an insulating barrier between and projectingabovevthe adjacent ends of said plates.

2. The combination with a trolley pole, of a head comprising a frame ofinsulating material pivoted to said pole, means for yieldinglymaintaining alignment of said pole and head comprising levers pivoted tothe pole and head and a spring connecting said levers, and contact meanscarried by said 5 head.

3. The combination with a trolley pole, of

tWo independent collector shoes secured thereto and adapted to contactsimultane- GEORGE W. Bowen.

